Hit Me With Your Best Shot

I was just walking down the street
when it hit me
a quick jab….followed
by a crushing right cross.
I staggered….stunned
by the suddenness of
a seemingly unprovoked attack.
Life, fate, Karma…WHAT!!!
I covered up, rolled, bobbed left,
feinted right, slid along the ropes
found the safety of the corner,
thanked Ali for the rope-a-dope.

I had forgotten the rules of life
“Protect yourself at all times”,
the bell will ring at sunrise
failure to answer the bell
will result in disqualification,
there is no standing eight count
you cannot be saved by the bell,
the bell will ring at sunset.

The sunrise bell summons me 
to the center of the ring.
I touch gloves with life,
with fate, with Karma.
The dance begins slowly.
Slide smoothly but quickly,
stick, jab, counter, cover.
To date I have taken on all comers,
dealt with their strength,
outwitted and outlasted the cunning,
outpunched the punchers,
outpointed the pure boxers.

So I stand, battered, but triumphant
in the center of life, hands held high
awaiting another sunrise bell.
A wily, weathered, champion
challenging life, fate, Karma to
“HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT”
“FIRE AWAY”

John G. Lawless
6/19/2015
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015

Poem

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Randebot24 Avatar
May 16, 2018 at 12:30 PM
KOOO
A   Avatar
July 7, 2015 at 1:04 AM
John, congratulations on your Triple Threat win. Love LINDA
A  Avatar
July 6, 2015 at 8:38 PM
this is awesome... SK
Dietrich Avatar
July 6, 2015 at 3:05 PM
oh just seeing your suggestion for me below. Hmmm. that was a good idea, John!! It would have made for a great collaboration. Anyway, so glad this did well in the contest. Congratulations.
Allison Avatar
July 6, 2015 at 12:07 PM
This is a knockout John! congrats on your win:-) hugs Jan xx
Nance Avatar
July 6, 2015 at 8:33 AM
You are a great story teller! Thank you for entering my contest with this! :)
Dietrich Avatar
June 22, 2015 at 3:39 PM
Amazing writing and how it ended with that reference to the cool rock song. I really enjoyed this one, John. This is one of the contests I have not 'tackled" yet. Should I do Girls just wanna have fun?
Lawless Avatar
June 22, 2015 at 4:00 PM
Andrea, I think you should conspire with a few of the other "girls" and collaborate on the "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" theme.
Canerdy Avatar
June 22, 2015 at 9:49 AM
You read my Hit Me poem and said "interesting take." So is yours. I love the modern-allegorical approach! Janice (Jancan)
Lawless Avatar
June 22, 2015 at 4:04 PM
Janice, thanks for stopping by to read and comment. I sometimes us the expression "interesting take" when a poem breaks from the conformity of the usual and leads me somewhere else in thought or into reflection on the multiple meanings hidden in all poems.
Onclaud Avatar
June 19, 2015 at 11:56 PM
parry the blows, right on, john... you inspire with this fearless write.. huggs
Lawless Avatar
June 22, 2015 at 4:01 PM
Nette, I think all poets and writers have lived a similar metaphoric experience.
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